Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Founded 1962
Type Charity. Membership organisation. Governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. Registered charity and a company limited by guarantee (Company number 730536).
Registration no. 266202
Focus Caring for wildlife and encouraging people to access their natural environment
Location
  • Elm Tree Court,
    Long Street,
    Devizes,
    Wiltshire,
    SN10 1NJ
Members
18,000+
Key people
 Dr Gary Mantle, MBE
(Director)
Employees
75+
Volunteers
1,700+
Website www.wiltshirewildlife.org

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is one of 47 trusts across the UK. Together the Wildlife Trusts are the largest voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places everywhere – at land and at sea. Wiltshire Wildlife Trust owns and manages 37 nature reserves in Wiltshire and Swindon, England.

History

Formed in 1962 as The Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation Ltd, with just seven members contributing £1 per year, the Trust was incorporated under the Companies Act on 23 July 1962. Involved in the creation of the Trust was acclaimed author and poet John Buxton. The inaugural meeting was held at County Hall, Trowbridge with some 160 people attending.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is based in Devizes, Wiltshire. The Trust began creating nature reserves in 1963 with the purchase of Blackmoor Copse. Within a decade, the Trust owned nine more reserves, had received its first legacy gift and membership had grown to 800. As it reached its 20th anniversary, the Trust owned 30 nature reserves and had 2,000 members. In 1989, the first Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon was held, raising £21,500 which was used to buy Morgan's Hill nature reserve.
For the 30th anniversary, in 1992, the Trust formally changed its name to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. In 1994, the Trust employed its first Otter Habitat Project Officer. At that time, there were no known otters in the county. In 2012, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust featured three reserves in the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts's Guide to Otters, a testament to the success of the project.
In its 50th year, 2012, the Trust owned and managed 37 nature reserves.

Activities

The Trust currently owns and manages 37 nature reserves, including three farming operations. It also works to encourage Wiltshire's communities to live sustainable lifestyles that protect the environment, engaging the public on issues such as recycling. It is active in schools and community projects and it works with people experiencing mental health issues, using the environment as a tool to mental and physical well-being.
It issues a variety of publications including a members magazine, Wiltshire Wildlife. Its digital presence includes social networking, such as Twitter and Facebook. Working with Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council, it produces an annual State of the Environment report.[1] The report, first published in 2012, tracks the changing environment, highlights future issues and provides recommendations on a variety of topics affecting the county.
The Trust undertakes a wide variety of educational work to engage local residents with its work, and to develop an understanding and love for the natural environment. As of 2013, these activities include:

Wiltshire has a large military population and the Trust runs community-based programmes that encourage military families to get outside and connect with nature and local residents. It is also working with the charity Help for Heroes, aiding injured service personnel to recover through carrying out conservation tasks at Tedworth House.

Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon

The major fundraising event in the Trust's annual calendar is the Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon. This is a unique event for three reasons. Firstly, it is run between the Neolithic sites at Avebury, Wiltshire and Stonehenge. Secondly, it takes place over land owned by the Ministry of Defense which is not normally open to the public. Thirdly, it features a mixture of events, from a full marathon run to a 7 km walk, to a cycle ride and running with dogs. Branded 'Run it, Walk it, Bike it, Enjoy it', the event attracts participants from around the world.

Nature Reserves

The Trust owns and manages 37 nature reserves[2] (including complexes of several adjacent reserves) across the county, including seven Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). In 2013, the Trust's nature reserve, Clattinger Farm, was named as one of the first Coronation Meadows.

Snake's head fritillaries at Clattinger Farm

Its Sites of Special Scientific Interest are:

Currently, the Trust also owns and manages:

  • Langford Lakes
  • Little Langford Down
  • Lower Moor Farm
  • Markham Banks
  • Middleton Down
  • Nadder Island – note this reserve is not open to the public
  • Oaksey Moor Farm Meadows
  • Oysters Coppice
  • Peppercombe Wood
  • Rushey Platt
  • Sandpool Farm
  • Smallbrook Meadows
  • Swindon Lagoons – open by prior arrangement only
  • The Devenish
  • The Firs
  • Upper Waterhay
  • Vincients Wood

Wiltshire & Swindon Local Nature Partnership – Link2Nature

In 2012, a variety of organisations from across Wiltshire and Swindon, including Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, created Link2Nature, a local nature partnership.

Living Landscapes

The Trust is part of the national living landscapes project to restore, re-create and reconnect conservation sites with the wider countryside across England.

Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre

Within the Trust's headquarters at Devizes is the Wiltshire and Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC). Its role is to collect, collate, manage, interpret and disseminate relevant information for the county. Data from WSBRC is publicly available.

References

  1. ↑ "State of the Environment Report". Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Reserves". Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
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